>>>It is in a loop for all records. After 496 records, rlock fails. I can not determine why. It is not ISRLOCKED()...each record is UNLOCKed at the end of each loop iteration.....
>>
>>On a Novell Server 3.11 the default, as I recall is 500 locks. This is a Setting that can be changed. I don't know what the default is for 4.* Netware.
>
>hrm, but the loop seems to be unlocking every iteration. Unless the unlock is silently failing - ?
>
>No one else is using this app, I guarantee, since it is on my development system, which is, btw, Netware 4.11 latest everything.
>
>any way I can get more info on what is happening??

Tom, this is a long thread, so someone else may have suggested this...
IF Rlock() or Retrylock()
do stuff
unlock
endif

where Retrylock is a function like (it's an old Fox 2 program of mine)
I don't rely on RLOCK() on it's own to work and I don't call retrylock() first up since it's slower.

FUNCTION RetryLock
PARAMETER cAlias, msg
* Attempt to lock a record and return .T. if successful.
* NOTE: The calling program MUST already have attempted an RLOCK()
* IF RLOCK() OR RetryLock()
*		<replace etc>
* ENDIIF
*
* msg is optional

IF EMPTY(m.cAlias)
	* lock current work area
	cAlias= ALIAS()
ENDIF
IF TYPE('m.msg') # 'C'
	msg= 'The program is currently unable to access a record or file.' ;
		+ 'You can retry now, or cancel and try again later.'
ENDIF

DO WHILE MessageBox(m.msg, 69, 'File/Record in use by another.') = 4
	* User is being persistant!
	IF RLOCK(m.cAlias)
		RETURN .T.
		*<<<<<<<<
	ENDIF
ENDDO
* User has given up hope!
RETURN .F.

That way you'll see if it's failing.
Also check out SET REPROCESS
HTH